Fabricated ventilator and method of producing same

ABSTRACT

A fixed blade ventilator is fabricated from blades which interlock with side channels to form, without more, a unified structure.

United States Patent l 13,580,160

[ 72] Inventor Francis J. McCabe [56] References Cited P. 0. BOX 131,Penns Park, Pa. 18943 UNITED STATES PATENTS 21 AppLNo. 815,896 98,121[22] Filed Apr. 14,1969 98/121 [45] Patented May 25, 1971 98/12] PnmaryExaminer-Meyer Perlm [54] FABRICATED VENTILATOR AND METHOD OF A -F k J Ba tti PRODUCING SAME 12 Claims, 4 Drawing Figs.

[52] US. 98/ 121 ABSTRACT. A fixed blade ventilator 1s fabncated from[51] Int. F 13/08 blades WhlCh interlock with side channels to form,wlthout [50] Field of Search 98/40, 121 more, a umfied structurePATENTEU HAY25 1911 SHEET 1 0F 2 PATENTED W25 l9?! SHEET 2 0F 2INVENTOR. j/M Z 4 FABRICATED VENTILATOR AND METHOD OF PRODUCING SAMEBACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to ventilators andmore particularly to ventilators of the fixed blade type.

In the prior art such ventilators were composed of a multitude of piecesincluding nuts, bolts, brackets, etc., which required considerable timeto assemble and which, when composed of dissimilar metals, were subjectto corrosion. Further, the mechanical connections often were subject toloosening during handling or shipment resulting in a ventilator whichrattled in use.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention overcomes thedeficiencies of the prior art by providing a fixed blade ventilatorhaving a plurality of blades which quickly and easily are'assembled withside members to form a unified structure which neither rattles nor issubject to corrosion because of dissimilar metal components. In thepreferred embodiment each blade has longitudinally extending bladeportions offset from one another by a BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGSFIG. 1 is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of myinvention; 7

FIG. 2 is a view taken as indicated by the lines and arrow 2-2 in FIG.I;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged perspective view of a portion of the structureshown in the proceeding FIGS.; and

FIG. 4 is a view taken as indicated by the lines and arrows 4-4 in FIG.3.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS.

Although specific forms of the invention have been selected forillustration in the drawings, and the following description is drawn inspecific terms for the purpose of describing these forms of theinvention, this description is not intended to limit the scope of theinvention which is defined in the appended claims.

Referring to the FIGS., a ventilator designated generally I comprisesside members 12 and I4 and a plurality of fixed blades 16. The entireunit is preferably made of aluminum which is formed and or extruded orboth and is on the order of 0.081 inches thick. The side members aregenerally E-shaped in cross section and are arranged as mirror images inthe structure. Each side member has a front and a rear flange and acenter flange which preferably extends inwardly a greater distance thanthe front and rear flanges (compare center flange 18 FIG. 3 with frontflange 20 and rear flange 22). The reason for this extension will bemore fully explained hereinafter with respect to assembling thestructure.

The center flange has a plurality of T-shaped notches cut therein spacedat equal intervals and oriented as shown in FIG. 3 with the stem 24 ofthe T extending preferably perpendicular to the wall 26 of the sidemember and completely severing the inwardly extending edge of the flange18. The top of the T-shaped slot is cut through the flange 18 right atits juncture with the wall 26.

Each blade consists of longitudinally extending blade portions 30 and 32FIG. 3 which are oflset by a web portion designated generally 36 FIG. 3.The entire blade is preferably bent into the Z-shape shown to formoffset opposed longitudinally extending comers or bearing surfaces 38and 40.

The blade portions 30 and 32 preferably terminate in oppositelyextending flanged edges 42 and 44 respectively which are bent at anangle to the blade portions and which conveniently include stiffeningportions or flanges 46 and 48 respectively which are disposed inwardly.With the blade disposed in operative relation to the side member theflanges 42 and 44 bear against the front and rear flanges 20 and 22.

- The parts described thus far are carefully dimensioned so that inorder to place the blades in the operative position shown it isnecessary to bend them slightly in the direction of the arrows shown inFIG. 2, said bending being well within the elastic limit of the.materials of which they are composed. As shown in FIG. 2 the bendingforce on the blade is resisted most preferably at four points, namely,between the surfaces of the web 37 and the lower front and upper rearedges of the center flange 18 formed by the stem 24 of the notch, andwhere the longitudinally extending comers 38and 49 bear against thecenter flange 18. Once the blade is fully inserted into the notch theforce on the blade portions 30 and 32 is relaxed so that the flanges 42and 44 bear against the inner sides ofthe front and rear flanges 20 and22 of the side member. The natural resiliency of the material of whichthe blade is formed causes it to lock in this-position by exerting aspring force against the flanges. In order to cause this result toobtain, the blade is so formed in its natural unflexed state that thehorizontal distance between the peaks 38 and 40 FIG. 2 is less than thethickness of the center flange 18 when measured with the blade at theangle at which it will be placed in its operative position. Thus thepeaks 38 and 40 will always engage the front and rear faces of thecenter flange 18 before the blade 16 has been rotated counterclockwise,when viewed as in FIG. 2, sufficiently to allow the end flanges 42 and44 to come within the flanges 20 and 22.

It is with respect to this aspect of my invention that the extra lengthof the flange 18 plays an important part. In assembling the blade withthe side'portion 12 the edge of the web 37 is first inserted into theslot 24 and then the blade is twisted to allow it to be fully seatedwith the edge of the blade against the wall 26.

When the web 37 engages the flange 18 with both its upper I and lowerfaces the blade is fixed in its vertical position, To retain the bladein-horizontal position the web 37 is crimped inthe area of the head ofthe T-shaped slot. Referring more particularly to FIG. 4 it has beenfound most desirable to pierce the web 37 behind the notch shown so thata lip 39 depends from the web 37 and engagesthe notch asat 41.Thuspositively fixing the blade to the side member 12.

Top and bottom members may also be used to give the vent a finishedappearance. For example, top member 60 FIGS. 1 and 2 is formed of asimple channel disposed within the front and back flanges 20 and 22 andcan be spot welded thereto. In such a case it may be necessary to cutoff a portion of the blade 17 to accommodate the top member.

Where the length of the unit becomes so great that undue flexing willoccur one or more supports such as that shown at in FIG. 1 can be used.Such a support comprises a flat piece of bar stock which is spot weldedto the outwardly disposed The intermediate web portion 36 has a riser39' extending blade. Both'risers provide water stops which extend thefull width of the blades. An additional water stop is provided by theflange 44 and its inwardly disposed portion 48.

It will be understood that various changes in the details, materials andarrangement of parts which have been herein described and illustrated inorder to explain the nature of this invention, may be made by thoseskilled in the art within the principle and scope of the invention asexpressed in the fol-' lowing claims.

lclaim:

l. A ventilator comprising:

a. a frame having opposed side members, each of said side members havingat least two inwardly disposed flanges spaced from one another, and anintermediate flange depending inwardly between said last mentionedflanges having at least one notch therein presenting an inwardlydisposed open end; and

b. at least one blade, comprising a plurality of blade portions offsetfrom one another by an intermediate Z-shapd web having risers connectedto said blade portions; said web being disposed in said notch; saidblade engaging said intermediate flange and being bent to engage saidfirst mentioned flanges and exert a spring force thereon.

2. The invention ofclaim 1 wherein said intermediate web engages saidintermediate flange along the portions thereof forming said notch.

3. The invention of claim 1 wherein said blade engages said intermediateflange at the junctures of said risers with said blade portions.

4. The invention of claim 1 wherein said blade portions includeoppositely disposed flanges at the ends thereof.

5. The invention of claim 4 wherein said blade is disposed at an acuteangle to the horizontal and the flange at the edge of the lower bladeportion depends downwardly.

6. The invention of claim 1 wherein said notch includes a wider portionremote from the innermost edge of said intermediate flange, and saidintermediate web is deformed in the area of said wider portion to engagesaid intermediate flange.

7. The invention of claim 6 wherein 'said wider portion extendsoutwardly to the base of said intermediate flange.

8. The invention of claim l'wherein said intermediate flange extendsinwardly a greater-distance than said first mentioned flanges.

9. A method of assembling a ventilator having a frame including opposedside members, each of said side members having at least two inwardlydisposed flanges spaced from one 7 another, and an intermediate flangedepending inwardly between said last mentioned flanges having at leastone notch therein presenting an inwardly disposed open end, and at leastone blade, comprising a plurality of blade portions offset from oneanother by an intermediate web, said web being connected to said bladeportions by risers, comprising the steps of inserting said web in saidnotch; engaging said blade with said intennediate flange; and bendingsaid blade portions to engage said first mentioned flanges and exert aspring force thereon.

l0. ln the method of claim 9 wherein said notch includes a wider portionremote from the innermost edge of said intermediate-flange, theadditional step of deforming said intermediate web in the area of saidwider portion to engage said intermediate flange.

11. The invention of claim 10 wherein said wider portion extendsoutwardly to the base of said intermediate flange, the additional stepof seating said blade against said base of said side members prior todeforming said intermediate web.

12. A method of assembling a ventilator having a frame including opposedside members, each of said side members having at least two inwardlydisposed flanges spaced from one another, and an intermediate flangedepending inwardly between said last mentioned flanges and a greaterdistance having at least one notch therein presenting an inwardlydisposed open end, said notch including a wider portion remote from theinnermost edge of said intermediate flange, and at least one blade,comprising a plurality of blade portions offset from one another by anintermediate web, said web being connected to said blade portions byrisers, comprising the steps of inserting said web into said notch;engaging said intermediate flange with said blade at the junctures ofsaid risers and said blade portions; bending said blade portions withinthe envelope of said first mentioned flanges on said side members;inserting said blade further into said notches; releasing said bladeportions so that they engage said first mentioned flanges and exert aspring force thereon.

1. A ventilator comprising: a. a frame having opposed side members, eachof said side members having at least two inwardly disposed flangesspaced from one another, and an intermediate flange depending inwardlybetween said last mentioned flanges having at least one notch thereinpresenting an inwardly disposed open end; and b. at least one blade,comprising a plurality of blade portions offset from one another by anintermediate Z-shapd web having risers connected to said blade portions;said web being disposed in said notch; said blade engaging saidintermediate flange and being bent to engage said first mentionedflanges and exert a spring force thereon.
 2. The invention of claim 1wherein said intermediate web engages said intermediate flange along theportions thereof forming said notch.
 3. The invention of claim 1 whereinsaid blade engages said intermediate flange at the junctures of saidrisers with said blade portions.
 4. The invention of claim 1 whereinsaid blade portions include oppositely disposed flanges at the endsthereof.
 5. The invention of claim 4 wherein said blade is disposed atan acute angle to the horizontal and the flange at the edge of the lowerblade portion depends downwardly.
 6. The invention of claim 1 whereinsaid notch includes a wider portion remote from the innermost edge ofsaid intermediate flange, and said intermediate web is deformed in thearea of said wider portion to engage said intermediate flange.
 7. Theinvention of claim 6 wherein said wider portion extends outwardly to thebase of said intermediate flange.
 8. The invention of claim 1 whereinsaid intermediate flange extends inwardly a greater distance than saidfirst mentioned flanges.
 9. A method of assembling a ventilator having aframe including opposed side members, each of said side members havingat least two inwardly disposed flanges spaced from one another, and anintermediate flange depending inwardly between said last mentionedflanges having at least one notch therein presenting an inwardlydisposed open end, and at least one blade, comprising a plurality ofblade portions offset from one another by an intermediate web, said webbeing connected to said blade portions by risers, comprising the stepsof inserting said web in said notch; engaging said blade with saidintermediate flange; and bending said blade portions to engage saidfirst mentioned flanges and exert a spring force thereon.
 10. In themethod of claim 9 wherein said notch includes a wider portion remotefrom the innermost edge of said intermediate flange, the additional stepof deforming said intermediate web in the area of said wider portion toengage said intermediate flange.
 11. The invention of claim 10 whereinsaid wider portion extends outwardly to the base of said intermediateflange, the additional step of seating said blade against said base ofsaid side members prior to deformIng said intermediate web.
 12. A methodof assembling a ventilator having a frame including opposed sidemembers, each of said side members having at least two inwardly disposedflanges spaced from one another, and an intermediate flange dependinginwardly between said last mentioned flanges and a greater distancehaving at least one notch therein presenting an inwardly disposed openend, said notch including a wider portion remote from the innermost edgeof said intermediate flange, and at least one blade, comprising aplurality of blade portions offset from one another by an intermediateweb, said web being connected to said blade portions by risers,comprising the steps of inserting said web into said notch; engagingsaid intermediate flange with said blade at the junctures of said risersand said blade portions; bending said blade portions within the envelopeof said first mentioned flanges on said side members; inserting saidblade further into said notches; releasing said blade portions so thatthey engage said first mentioned flanges and exert a spring forcethereon.